Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-07-15

h S bag half an hour before. grinned to
himself under his mustache and let
them remain there. Then. the papers
being exhaused. Mrs. Bob and the old
parson fell back upon conversation. and
very nicely did their conversation -four
things, and when the two old ladies and
the fat old gentleman got out, which
they did at Peterborough and Grant
ham, he became a good deal more
amusing, and made Mrs. Bob laugh so
much that they quite glided into arta-
ton.
AS for Bob. he was unusually quiet;
and Bob was not great taker at any
time. Once. indeed. so silent was he
that his wife asked him if he had a
headache; but he answered in the mega
tive, and added that the story he was
reading was particularly interesting.
So he read his book most of the way,
and only joined into the conversation
not to look sulky.
Bob, looking at her watch land we
shall be at York; we change at York for
Liliminster
you 90 to Lliminster p said the
old person.
Yes; my husbands regiment is quar-
tered there" she replied.
"Ah, | go different wagon to Car
Isle" he said.
"Oh. you live at Carlisle ?" In truth
the little woman was longing to kno W
where he did live, and what was his
name, but did not quite like to put the
question plainly.
"Oh, no live in London" he an
swered. Il am going to Carlisle for n
couple of days on matter of business. !"
At this point Bob exploded IA smoth-
cred little Singer of laugh, just
loud enough for Mrs. Bob to hear.
make her turn her big eyes upon him
and ask:
why are you laughing, Bob ?"
"Oh this story is awfully amusing, "
he answered, promptly. AS it happen
ed, that portion of the story just
before him described heart broken
parting between pair of hearth broken
| lovers.
However, satisfied by the reply, Mrs.
Bob turned again to their fellow travel
Ter.
"Oh, | thought your living might be
at Carlisle she said
MY Hvtag" he repeated, in {
puzzled tone. which set Bob off laugh
ing again My lictag, my dear lady
am not clergyman.
"Oh, are you not?' in crestfallen
tones. Il made SIRE you were"
The fact IS, struck in Bob. my
wife considers herself great Judge OF
character and physognomy and all
that-says she has only to look at a
man to tell his business at once"
MY dear madam said the old
gentleman. in very hin tone, Il am
afraid for once you are at fault. | hold
a public Office under the Crown.
Really now! Well, | quite thought
you were a clergyman. How one may
be mistaken she said, in the pretty,
childish way which seemed to attract
every one, and wondering what Boil
could be laughing at. "Oh. here W,
are at York. -
The old gentleman was very kinc
still; their train left in ten minutes,
and he helped to carry some of hel
numerous parcel, across the platform.
Presently, when Bob brought his wife
back from the refreshment-room, he
helped her into the carriage.
Goodbye she said, holding out hel
hand to HIM. you have been yer,
kind to me; we have enjoyed YOU
society very much. / hope we MAJ
meet again some day"
He took her hand as If it had beer
some fair and lovely thing. too sacred
for common touch.
"A great many people say goodbye tc
me, he said, rather wistfully; "bu
they don't say they hope TO meet IN,
again. y Then the tram moved; tn,
old gentleman lifted his hat, Bob fol
lowed suit; Mrs. Bob smiled and wavec
her hand, and they had parted, the
chance acquaintance of few hours.
Il wish he had told us his name, y
she said, regretfully.
Bob slipped his arm around her
waist.
Lilly, my child" he said, gravely
but with laughter in his eyes. "you
don't know who he was ?''
NO, Bob" wonderingly; do youp'
II saw him once. AS he told you
he holds a public Office under the
Gro WIN. And his name is CAL; bu,
the little Mrs. Bob uttered such a
scream that the remainder of the WORD
was lost and Bob laughed too immod-
erately to repeat it.